A clutch of Nigeria Premier Football League teams including Akwa United, Sunshine Stars and Nasarawa United are the acknowledged top dogs as the Round of 16 matches of this year’s AITEO Cup competition take place on Saturday and Sunday in different centres of the Federation.

Niger Tornadoes, who squeezed through to this stage with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out defeat of two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC have a date with Green Beret FC at the FIFA Goal Project inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Akwa United have an interesting fixture against Kogi United, who also experienced the lottery of penalty shoot-out before edging out ambitious Kanta United following a 2-2 draw in regulation time. The boys from Uyo eased their way to this stage with a 3-0 spanking of CAF Cup aspirants Remo Stars. Both teams are engaged in the only match of the men’s competition coming up on Sunday, and at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Sunshine Stars, big winners (5-1) over Rovers in the Round of 32, have a date with Katsina United at the Area 3 venue in the Federal Capital Territory, while Kano Pillars tackle DMD FC at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.

Heartland FC, who ejected multi-titlists Enugu Rangers after penalty shoot-out in Benin City, will be up against Dakkada of Uyo at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba. Lobi Stars will square up against Akure City at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus on Saturday.

Nasarawa United, stretched taut by Sokoto United in a penalty shootout that eventually ended 11-10, will be up against inspired Bendel Insurance at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, while El-Kanemi Warriors and Wikki Tourists will do battle in Jos.

In the women’s event, Cup holders Bayelsa Queens will trade tackles with Abia Angels in Akure on Sunday, with Nasarawa Amazons and Confluence Queens in a potentially explosive encounter at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja also on Sunday.

Heartland Queens, 2-1 winners over Dannaz Ladies in the earlier round, will be up against Delta Queens at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.

Last year’s runners-up FC Robo Queens, who dislodged Edo Queens 2-0 in the Round of 16, are rewarded with another big tie, this time against Royal Queens, who edged Osun Babes. Both teams take the pitch at the Abakaliki from 4pm on Sunday.   

AITEO CUP COMPETITION 2022

ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (MEN)     

Green Beret Vs Niger Tornadoes – 06/08/22 – FIFA Goal Project – 4pm

Lobi Stars Vs Akure City Vs Niger Tornadoes – 06/08/22 – Enugu – 4pm

Heartland FC Vs Dakkada FC – 06/08/22 – Asaba – 4pm

Sunshine Stars Vs Katsina United – 06/08/22 – Area 3 Abuja – 4pm

Akwa United Vs Kogi United – 07/08/22 – Enugu – 4pm

DMD FC Vs Kano Pillars – 06/08/22 – Bauchi – 4pm

El-Kanemi Warriors Vs Wikki Tourists – 06/08/22 – Jos – 4pm

Bendel Insurance Vs Nasarawa United – 06/08/22 – Aba – 4pm

QUARTER FINAL FIXTURES (WOMEN)

Bayelsa Queens Vs Abia Angels – 07/08/22 – Akure – 4pm

Nasarawa Amazons Vs Confluence Queens – 07/08/22 – Abuja – 4pm

Delta Queens Vs Heartland Queens – 07/08/22 – Ijebu-Ode – 4pm

Royal Queens Vs FC Robo Queens – 07/08/22 – Abakaliki – 4pm

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS (MEN)

Bayelsa United 0 Green Beret 0 (4-5 penalties)

Enyimba International 0 Niger Tornadoes 0 (5-6 penalties)

Doma United 0 Lobi Stars 3

Akure City Academy 2 Bendel Insurance Feeders 1

Rangers Int’l 1 Heartland FC 1 (7-8 penalties)

Sunshine Stars 5 Rovers FC 1

Cynosure FC 1 Katsina United 3

Remo Stars 0 Akwa United 3

Kogi United 2 Kanta United 2 (5-4 penalties)

DMD FC 0 Housing Corporation 0 (4-2 penalties)

Zamfara United 0 Kano Pillars 5

Fulfill FC 0 El-Kanemi Warriors 1

Kwara United 1 Wikki Tourists 1 (3-4 penalties)

Bendel Insurance 1 Ottasolo FC 1 (4-3 penalties)

Sokoto United 1 Nasarawa United 1 (10-11 penalties)     

ROUND OF 16 RESULTS (WOMEN)

Bayelsa Queens 3 Niger Amazons 0 (W/O)  

Abruka Queens 1 Abia Angels 3 

Naija Ratels 0 Nasarawa Amazons 1 

Immaculate Queens 0 Confluence Queens 8 

Honey Badgers 0 Delta Queens 2

Heartland Queens 2 Dannaz Ladies 1 

Osun Babes 2 Royal Queens 3

Edo Queens 0 FC Robo Queens 2

The 2022/23 Premier League actions resume today with Arsenal travelling to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace in a London derby in their opening game.

For the third season in a row, Arsenal will begin their new campaign with a London derby; the Gunners eased to a 3-0 success at Fulham behind closed doors in 2020, but Brentford ran out convincing 2-0 winners over Arteta’s side in their first-ever Premier League fixture last term.

Patrick Vieira’s side thumped the Gunners 3-0 in this fixture only a few months ago, but Mikel Arteta has worked to plug the gaps in his Gunners XI during a productive summer.

Taking four points from a possible six against his former club last season, Patrick Vieira slammed the Emirates turf in frustration when his side gave away two points in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal before witnessing his side outclassing the Gunners in April.

By leading the Eagles to a 12th-placed finish last season and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, former Invincibles captain Vieira earned a manager of the season nomination, and optimism is high around Selhurst Park under the Frenchman.

While witnessing Conor Gallagher return to Chelsea was a bitter blow, Cheick Doucoure and Malcolm Ebiowei are ready to make their mark in the English capital, and the end of pre-season was largely positive for Vieira’s side.

The Eagles enter this game after back-to-back wins over Queens Park Rangers and Montpellier HSC in friendly battles, and their only defeats of the exhibition period came at the hands of Liverpool and Manchester United.

Kicking off the season at Selhurst Park is just what the doctor ordered for Palace, who went unbeaten in their last six home games last season and remarkably managed to keep clean sheets in each of their last five – no mean feat with Arsenal, Man United and Manchester City all featuring in that list.

Fans will soon be able to get a glimpse of what went down at Arsenal during the 2021-22 season when their All Or Nothing Amazon Prime documentary is released, including that forgettable encounter at Selhurst Park for Mikel Arteta.

While returning to continental competition in the form of the Europa League constituted a successful season for the Gunners, there was a palpable sense of disappointment after their end-of-campaign collapse allowed Tottenham Hotspur to swoop in and nick the fourth and final Champions League spot.

However, if Arsenal’s pre-season is anything to go by, the Gunners will be a force to be reckoned with in the new season, as Chelsea fell victim to a 4-0 defeat to their London rivals in Orlando before a six-goal thumping of Sevilla in the Emirates Cup.

Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick on that day and represents one of two big-money acquisitions from Manchester City this summer, with Oleksandr Zinchenko also reuniting with Arteta in North London, but the Gunners boss has urged fans and players alike not to get carried away with pre-season results.

Fulham vs Liverpool

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is considered a ‘GOAT’ in the fighting scene and brother, Mohammed Usman hopes to earn himself a spot in UFC following his elder brother’s footsteps.

Mohammed is set to fight in The Ultimate Fighter season 30 heavyweight finals, which takes place on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night. Should he wins, he’ll get his spot on the UFC roster next to his brother, champion Kamaru.

While many would shrink under the shadow of an older brother who is not only a UFC champion but also the No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Mohammed welcomes the comparison, during a media day for Saturday’s upcoming matchup, he said, “I love it. He’s an Usman, it’s our last name. I’m here because of my brother, from the aspect of he started fighting before me.

“I had to put the work in to get here. Fighting is fighting. It’s not ‘Oh, Kamaru’s your brother, now let’s just push you up here you’re the winner of The Ultimate Fighter finale. You don’t have to fight these two hard monsters that are coming in at 265 pounds to be here. We’ll just put you in because your brother’s Kamaru Usman.’ That’s false.”

“Everything about fighting is yourself. That’s why I love it so much because as much as people speak about my brother, I’m still the one that has to come out here and compete and fight and win for me to be up here and you guys talk crap about me and tell me about my brother. If I don’t win I’m not even getting up here … I have to go out and win to get another ‘Oh, compared to your brother?’ Oh, thank you, I won, so yes, if I’m winning I’m doing great.”

Mohammed comes into his pivotal fight against fellow TUF finalist Zac Pauga with a 7-2 record, but will have to overcome the odds if he wants to earn the title of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’

According to Vegas bookies, Mohammed comes into the match as an underdog while Pauga is the favourite to dominate.

Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski, has been unveiled to the Barcelona fans at the Camp Nou on Friday

Lewandowski was presented as Barcelona’s new No.9 following his €50 million (£42m/$51m) transfer from Bayern Munich.

The European highest goal scorer has inherited the iconic jersey from Memphis Depay, who has been linked with a Camp Nou exit following Lewandowski’s transfer.

Lewandowski turns 34 later this month but dismissed any suggestion that his best years are behind him at his first press conference at Barca’s stadium on Thursday, even though he didn’t hit the net for the club in pre-season.

“I think my age is not important right now, it’s just a number. I feel better than when I was 29,” he said.

He added, “I know that Barcelona was not going through an easy time, but when I spoke with Joan and heard about the project and the way they wanted to follow, I thought that the best thing was to make the jump to Barcelona.”

He also spoke on the rivalry with La Liga champions Real Madrid.

“I’m not thinking about Real Madrid or Benzema, he’s an extraordinary striker, but for me, the most important thing is to win with Barcelona, not to beat him,” he said.

Ever-present African representatives Nigeria departed the shores of the country on Thursday evening for this year’s U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Coach Christopher Danjuma picked team captain Oluwatosin Demehin and 20 others – an overwhelming majority of whom were involved in the lengthy qualifying series – to wear Nigeria’s colours at the 19-day championship.

The Falconets had to scale the hurdles presented by Central African Republic, Congo, Cameroon and Senegal, winning six of seven matches (they only drew with Cameroon in Douala) to be eligible to fly Africa’s flag once more at the finals in Central America.

Nigeria will play France, Canada and Korea in Group C of the 16-nation, which beginsAugust 10, while 2018 runners-up Spain tango with hosts Costa Rica, Australia and Brazil in Group A. Africa’s other representatives Ghana are up against holders Japan, The Netherlands and three-time champions United States in Group D.

Germany, who have also won the competition three times, including 2010 and 2014 when they beat Nigeria in the final, will play Colombia, New Zealand and Mexico in Group B.

All group phase and quarter-final matches will be played at the Alejandro Morera Soto, which is a hybrid of natural and synthetic grass called stitched grass. The semi-final, final and third place matches will take place at the Estadio Nacional.

Nigeria’s first match of the competition will be against France, hosts of the 2018 edition. At the 2014 championship in Canada, Nigeria topped a group that had Korea, who they beat 2-1. France finished in third place at the same competition as Nigeria finished as runners-up.

Nigeria bounced back to front line at the on-going World Chess Olympiad in Chennia, India with a massive win by the male and female teams against Myanmar and Zimbabwe respectively.

 The win came after a disappointing draw score-line in all- African pairing in the fifth round against Kenya and Botswana in the Open and Female section respectively, Team Nigeria bounced back to reckoning as the tournament hit half way mark.

The male team secured 2.5 to 1.5 win over Myanmar after Balogun Oluwafemi on board one secured a win against Maung Kyaw Hein and Bomo Kigigha in black pieces consolidated on Nigeria’s advantage with a win over Sai Han Thiha but Adebayo Adegboyega blundered against Kyan Mayat Aung to reduce the margin.

However, Akinseye Abiola played a draw on board four to give Nigeria a useful one and half points edge against the Asian nation. The result pushed the team to seven match points with 13.5 in Tie break 3 on the overall.

In the women section, Enomah Emmanulla Trust set the tone of a bright day for Nigeria on board one with a brilliant win against Charinda Kudzanayi of Zimbabwe but the lead was cut by half after Ofowino Toritsemuwa drew to Shaba Linda Dalitso on board two.

Tournament debutant, Ogbiyoyo Perpentual extended Nigeria’s lead on board three in black pieces against Makwena Christine but young Onoja Iyefu Joy lost to Zengeni Melisa on board four to cut Nigeria’s lead but on the overall it ended 2.5 to 1.5 in favour of the country.

The female team now has seven Match points and Tie break of 31. However, on the top boards, former world champion, Armenia still dictate the pace in the Open section on better tie break with USA and India Team two with 12 Match points and 33 Tie break 3

While in the women’s section, host India Team 2 is clear with 12 match points and Tie break 3 of 31.

Action resumes today with Nigeria likely to be paired against tough opposition in the 11-round Swiss event pairing.